Table of contents for VISI 109 in Visi (2024)

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Visi |VISI 109We’re still at home.As we speak, I’m typing away sitting at our living room table with my constant companion at the other end during these past lockdown months – my teenager – doing her matric schoolwork. That makes it the second issue of VISI done remotely … and it also marks the second wave of home-improvements for the Smith household. It’s been a thing, right? Sounds like everyone has spent a large part of lockdown thinking of ways to re-imagine, revamp, and redo their homes.For us, it’s mostly been about colour – an instinctive response, I guess, to the sameness of lockdown. Wave One was more of a painting and artwork thing. From a blank-canvas white, one wall got painted pink and another grey … and that resulted in a major rehang of…1 min

Visi |VISI 109Design Deconstruction MINIMALISMAny discussion about Minimalism as a design movement would have to start in the East. Traditional Japanese design, with its concepts of ikebana (precise floral arrangement), wabisabi (authenticity in natural imperfection) and ma (spatial intervals), existed long before the rest of the world embraced Minimalism in the 1960s and '70s.This Western turn to simple, pared-back, contemplative forms was mostly in opposition to Abstract Expressionism, with its dramatic excess and perceived spontaneity. Minimalists – in art, music, literature, fashion and architecture – were more interested in pauses and reflection. They sought to include resolved form, calming space and considered materials rather than extra brushstrokes, layered harmonies, additional sentences, more accessories or unnecessary walls.For design, this meant clean, reductive lines, a simple colour palette and a deliberate focus on function that adds…4 min

Visi |VISI 109vs.co.za visi.co.za GET THE LOOKOnly available from our store are beautiful and exclusive items like handcrafted cushions by Neimil, key rings by Pichulik, Pedersen + Lennard wall hooks, handy Pleeko pouches in a print created just for the VISI store, and a range of designer masks. Visit shop.visi.co.za today, and keep in touch via Instagram, Twitter and Facebook to be the first to find out about all our latest collaborations – and shop them too! Instagram @visi_mag • Twitter @VISI_Mag Facebook @VISImag…1 min

Visi |VISI 109"Is there that I born"Whenever I hear the word “home”, whether I’m uttering it or someone else is, what comes to me unbidden are images of my family’s life in the “servant’s quarters” where I was born (1966) and lived for the first few years of my life. My father, thirsty after a meal of salt snoek and bread, scooping a cup of cool water from a galvanised bucket on a kitchen counter. My mother, walking down the road to catch a bus to work. My brother, outside in the yard screaming “blue murder”, in my mother’s telling of the story, because his tricycle’s wheel was stuck behind a stone.This home was a converted garage on my uncle and aunt’s property in the newly declared group area of Charleston Hill, Paarl. It had three…3 min

Visi |VISI 109WIN a Continua ConsoleCONTINUA recently collaborated with South African model Kerry McGregor on this oak and black granite console that features natural stone from granite, marble and onyx distributors Rudi’s Choice.Now, you can enter to stand a chance of winning your very own handcrafted console or coffee table unit, which, together with the CONTINUA team, you'll get to design and customise. CONTINUA is a one-stop shop for all surface and flooring requirements. Their services including waterjet-cutting, polishing, fabrication, installation and custom-made furniture, and a product range featuring top-quality natural stone, porcelain, engineered oak, vinyl flooring, quartz and decorative tiles. The winner will be able to choose from three variations of natural stone. The dimensions of the prize will be tailor-made to the winner’s needs, but are limited to 1,2m x 0,4m x 1,1m.To…1 min

Visi |VISI 109Travel Diary THE ART OF TRAVELOnce travel restrictions are lifted, I am looking forward to the sensorial experience of seeing physical artwork. I want to have lengthy conversations with artists and smell wet oil paint, clay, resin or other materials in their studios again. I want to navigate through large-scale immersive installations and be moved by sonic experimentations. I want to go gallery-hopping in the CBD with friends until my feet hurt again. Though I really appreciate the accessibility of Zoom performances, PDF portfolios and virtual exhibitions, I'm looking forward to seeing art in person once more. DAK’ART, DAKAR, SENEGAL I've attended two iterations of the Dak’Art, Biennial of Contemporary African Art in Senegal and would love to be at the next one too. Conceived in 1989 and begun two years later, this is one…3 min

Visi |VISI 1091 Press GangTom Dixon has already produced several designs that genuinely merit the adjective “iconic” – quite an impressive achievement for someone with no formal design training who started out welding one-off furniture pieces to make ends meet while playing in a band. His highly original eye has always also been resolutely bold and industrially inspired, and one of the brand’s latest collections, Press, has all these qualities in spades. It might be more useful to say “in iron presses” because that’s how these gorgeous new pieces are made. Press is a series of heavyweight grooved vases, bowls and candleholders made of fat, chunky coils of pure and clear transparent glass. Graphic in silhouette and simple in function, they are manufactured by heating glass to 1›200›C and dropping big globs of the…1 min

Visi |VISI 1093 Situation ScapesPebofatso Mokoena's practice isn’t one that's based in a moment, he says. “It's more like in situation-scapes that merge, mingle, collide, slice, become miniaturised and expand at different moments of making work.” And that making includes sometimes working in painting, drawing, collage, print, and even video, which reflects this Johannesburg-based painter-printmaker's notion that “there are inherently so many things happening even before the work is made, that influence what the work may represent”.Pebofatso, who was raised in the East Rand, says, “I was born into an extraordinarily violent socio-political moment. Nothing about that situation was serene, but that paradigm had such a profound influence on how I saw the world in general.” Growing up, he adds, his family had a television and that was a sort of escape for him…3 min

Visi |VISI 1096 Table Talkinspiration behind the ABODE range, and the plans she has for the collection in the future. Having been making sensuous, shapely jewellery for almost 20 years, Kirsten Goss sees her recently launched ABODE collection as “a collection of modern-day heirlooms”. Her signature curvaceous jewellery designs translate beautifully into considered implements and objects for living, with a core collection consisting of sterling silver cutlery, and stainless steel and solid brass serving ware. We chatted to Kirsten about theWhy did you decide to create ABODE in addition to your jewellery ranges? Having grown up in a partly Norwegian family, we always had beautifully considered cutlery and homeware around. I guess that had a big influence on my penchant for great details in the living department. If you're going to scoop that chilli,…2 min

Visi |VISI 1097 Screen TestSlim-line, low-impact and eco-friendly, these minimal screens are designed to shield both restaurant staff and patrons during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Designed by Sandalene Dale-Roberts, founder of Naturalis bespoke furniture, the dividers were born out of necessity – and, of course, her ability to innovate and find a good-looking solution to a brand-new design problem.Sandalene’s husband, restauranteur extraordinaire Luke Dale-Roberts, has already employed them at The Pot Luck Club, one of his iconic venues in Cape Town. “Although dividers aren’t a government prerequisite, we wanted to make every effort to ensure the safety of our staff and guests,” Sandalene says.Made from metal and gloss-sealed Supawood or frosted glass, the attractive screens can be tailormade for any space, including offices, schools and shops. “Hopefully after COVID-19 we will be able to…1 min

Visi |VISI 1099 Smart WeaveWith better hygiene on everyone’s minds these days, the new FibreGuard Pro fabrics from Home Fabrics, which includes three separate fabric collections – the Spartacus, Michelin and Combo ranges – is the perfect way to update interiors beautifully without compromising on health and safety.All the fabrics in these luxurious ranges are soft to the touch as well as being moisture-, odour- and mildew-resistant.A breathable membrane has been applied to the back of the fabric that prevents any penetration of liquids, while still allowing air to circulate. This makes FibreGuard Pro fabrics washable and easy to clean, in addition to being stain-resistant and having antimicrobial properties.The Spartacus, Michelin and Combo collections are also durable, offering long-lasting value for money, and they're eco-friendly to boot. Like all of the other FibreGuard fabrics…1 min

Visi |VISI 10911 Back to the FutureNando’s opened its very first store in Rosettenville in 1987. Yes, although it seems like the beloved fast-food brand has been around forever, it’s really just over 30 – a smack-in-the-middle millennial, if you like. These days it’s hard to imagine South Africa without Nando’s, and VISI’s favourite element of the company’s global identity is undoubtedly its ongoing commitment to local design and art.Which is why, as designer and curator of the space Tracy Lynch puts it, it’s so exciting to see the original Nando’s space revamped to be “an extraordinary showcase of South African design”. The brand’s celebration of local design takes place on both a national and global level, informed by what she calls “the concept of using exceptional South African-designed furniture and an interior-design ZAesthetic”.As an interior…2 min

Visi |VISI 10912 Botanical BeautiesBorn and raised in the rural northwestern Free State, artist and horticulturalist Chris van Niekerk has long had a deep connection with the natural world. "I was forever fascinated by the unfathomable beauty and perfection of flowers," he says. "I would spend entire school holidays collecting flowers, seeds and leaves, dissecting and rearranging them into different shapes, forms and patterns."That childhood passion translated into university studies in horticulture at Tshwane University of Technology, following which Chris spent six years working at a horticulturalist – including being involved in the design and development of what is now the Centurion Lake complex in Gauteng. His increasing interest in design led to part-time lecturing in the field of landscape design and, following a move to Cape Town, 22 years as a conceptual artist…2 min

Visi |VISI 109On the CurveIn revealing the inspiration for his striking Bodulo Bench, young designer Khosi Leteba says, “I was born and raised in Durban, KwaZulu-Natal. But I'm of Sotho origin – that is where my grandparents are from. I often visit my family in Lesotho and when I started designing the collection, I was inspired by Basotho culture.” Leteba drew on his cultural heritage to create the curved lines and repetitive patterns on the body of the bench, which impressed the judges during the 2019 Clout Industry Days Fired Up competition. The bench was a part of his larger Bodulo Collection, and it's now been brought to life together with Laurie Wiid van Heerden of Wiid Design. Tracy Lynch of Nando’s Clout and Nando’s Portal to Africa introduced the two designers and proposed…2 min

Visi |VISI 109LIFE AFTER TVWith homes in London, Paris, Berlin and CapeTown, celebrated South African interior designer Hubert Zandberg has a fail-safe formula for decorating his homes. “Wherever I go in the world, I turn my immediate environment into a small town,” says Hubert, who grew up in the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region in South Africa. “For that reason, I’d always loved London’s Notting Hill as it emulates the small-town community of my childhood where it’s possible to be known by name at your local café, grocer and bookshop.” Having lived and worked in London for the past 25 years, Hubert’s eponymously-named interior design business is located in Notting Hill too. “It’s safe to say I have a healthy obsession with the area,” he says with a grin. “I’d been looking to buy…5 min

Visi |VISI 1094 Heritage of LuxeValoyi’s locally handmade handbags showcase a curated range of traditional textiles that celebrate West Africa, South Africa, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “I want to do my part in the redefining of the African narrative, my part in raising our heritage crafts and culture to a place of esteem, and further cementing its relevancy on this world,” says designer Harmonie Mbunga. “Why? Because its history matters. Our history matters.” For Harmonie, celebrating African history and culture is paramount. “Within every culture and tribe found in all the countries of this vast continent there is beauty, there is art and there is craftsmanship. But most of these creations are becoming lost and dying art forms. Our mission at Valoyi is to do our part in keeping the centuries-old heritage…1 min

Visi |VISI 1097 Screen TestSlim-line, low-impact and eco-friendly, these minimal screens are designed to shield both restaurant staff and patrons during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Designed by Sandalene Dale-Roberts, founder of Naturalis bespoke furniture, the dividers were born out of necessity – and, of course, her ability to innovate and find a good-looking solution to a brand-new design problem. Sandalene’s husband, restauranteur extraordinaire Luke Dale-Roberts, has already employed them at The Pot Luck Club, one of his iconic venues in Cape Town. “Although dividers aren’t a government prerequisite, we wanted to make every effort to ensure the safety of our staff and guests,” Sandalene says. Made from metal and gloss-sealed Supawood or frosted glass, the attractive screens can be tailormade for any space, including offices, schools and shops. “Hopefully after COVID-19 we will be…1 min

Visi |VISI 10910 Family FlairInterior retail gurus and married couple Camilla and Steven Whiteman credit their respective mothers with their natural flair for sourcing and curating homewares. Steven’s mom, Gail Behr, is the incomparable force behind the Dorp hotel in the Bo-Kaap while Camilla’s mother, Ineke Henderson, is the founder of the Pezula Interiors brand. “It feels as if we grew up in a movie set,” Steven says of his mother’s and mother-in-law’s ability to throw together contrasting pieces of furniture, cushions, fabrics and rugs in an artful and utterly effortless way. “And we seem to have inherited this skill.” The Pezula brand originated from Ineke’s family-run rattan weaving business on their farm in Zimbabwe. The shop first opened in Plettenberg Bay, and when Camilla and Steven took the reins in 2007, it moved…2 min

Visi |VISI 10913 Taken for PlantedHorticulture major Kevin Brown founded Earthlings, an indoor plant company, in 2001 and has since gone on to establish a division called Moss Works SA. Moss Works creates moss installations, made from preserved moss imported from Europe, which are fully customisable in shape and colour. They can be installed anywhere indoors and are ideal for both homes and corporate spaces. Plus, you’re able to place one of these installations virtually anywhere from ceilings to pillars to walls – the options are as wide as your imagination. WHY CONSIDER A MOSS INSTALLATION? ● Aesthetic greening • No watering or special lighting required • Fire resistant • Fully customisable • No maintenance required • Amazing acoustic properties Boasting both tactile and visual appeal, Moss Works installations offer an alternative to planted “living…1 min

Visi |VISI 10916 A Thread SpreadThe African Jacquard story began when French-born Christine Daron first came to Africa 35 years ago. After 11 years in Gabon and travels through the Congo, Angola and Burkina Faso, Christine decided to make South Africa her home in 1997. While she had managed interior design projects in Angola, Tanzania and Congo in the early 2000s, weaving her own fabric in Cape Town felt like a natural step to satisfy the needs of her clients. Using mainly cotton and linen, Christine decided to adopt the Jacquard style of weaving, in which the intricate woven patterns created are fully reversible and displayed on both sides of the fabric. And so African Jacquard began in 2014, at first making only tea towels and tablecloths. Projects for Babylonstoren and Angama Mara lodge in…2 min

Visi |VISI 109Contr butorsZANELE KUMALO, WRITER, EDITOR, ENTREPRENEURWhat’s your favourite memory of the house you lived in as a child?Growing up in Tongaat, adventure never lay inside the house. We made imaginary jam from the soft red rock that contoured part of the property, dodged snakes that loved the guavadilla trees we swung from in the tropical garden or escaped beyond it into the neighbouring sugar-cane fields to suck on the sweet grass.Zanele is a regular contributor to VISI and has had writing and editorial roles at a number of top South African publications. She currently runs her own content studio, What Zan Did Next whatzandidnext.com. In this issue, she introduces us to artist Pebofatso Mokoena’s work (page 128).MILA CREWE-BROWN, FREELANCE WRITERWhat’s your favourite memory of the house you lived in as a…2 min

Visi |VISI 109Contr butorsZANELE KUMALO, WRITER, EDITOR, ENTREPRENEUR What’s your favourite memory of the house you lived in as a child? Growing up in Tongaat, adventure never lay inside the house. We made imaginary jam from the soft red rock that contoured part of the property, dodged snakes that loved the guavadilla trees we swung from in the tropical garden or escaped beyond it into the neighbouring sugar-cane fields to suck on the sweet grass. Zanele is a regular contributor to VISI and has had writing and editorial roles at a number of top South African publications. She currently runs her own content studio, What Zan Did Next whatzandidnext.com. In this issue, she introduces us to artist Pebofatso Mokoena’s work (page 128). MILA CREWE-BROWN, FREELANCE WRITER What’s your favourite memory of the house…2 min

Visi |VISI 109Travel Diary THE ART OF TRAVELOnce travel restrictions are lifted, I am looking forward to the sensorial experience of seeing physical artwork. I want to have lengthy conversations with artists and smell wet oil paint, clay, resin or other materials in their studios again. I want to navigate through large-scale immersive installations and be moved by sonic experimentations. I want to go gallery-hopping in the CBD with friends until my feet hurt again. Though I really appreciate the accessibility of Zoom performances, PDF portfolios and virtual exhibitions, I'm looking forward to seeing art in person once more.DAK’ART, DAKAR, SENEGAL I've attended two iterations of the Dak’Art, Biennial of Contemporary African Art in Senegal and would love to be at the next one too. Conceived in 1989 and begun two years later, this is one of…3 min

Visi |VISI 109Where the Heart is“So, where is home for you?” fills me with as much cause to pause as “… and, your mother tongue is?” The answers aren’t neat. “I’m from Durban,” I’ll say, hoping that quickly covers both. I mostly only consider Durban the city in which I was born and raised, though to me, home is something else. And it keeps changing.Growing up, we moved often. Until I was about 14 years old, we’d changed address six times as a nuclear family. My father is from Kimberley, my mother from East London. Visiting relatives meant at least a nine-hour road trip, four little girls squished in the backseat, trying not to nap on each other.During those visits to the Northern and Eastern Cape, watching my parents in their hometowns felt like seeing…3 min

Visi |VISI 109DREAM WEAVERTEXT GRAHAM WOOD n the vast ancient desert of Namibia, nature is the greatest architect. Millions of years have refined the shapes of the shelters that birds and animals create for themselves here. The gigantic nests built by sociable weaver birds in camelthorn trees – vast domed structures of twigs and grass often 3m wide – are one of the most striking examples. “They’re architectural masterpieces,” says Swen Bachran, the entrepreneur and conservationist who established the Namib Tsaris Conservancy with his neighbours in the desert, not far from the famous red dunes at Sossusvlei and the haunting 700-year-old skeletons of dead camelthorn trees at Deadvlei.Before he owned any land in the region, he and his designer and artist friend Porky Hefer visited a spot nearby the site of The Nest,…6 min

Visi |VISI 109VISION QUESTHOUSES DESIGNED BY THE MID-CENTURY ARCHITECT MICHAEL SUTTON inspire a rare devotion among Johannesburg design lovers. And so it was for Marilyn McDowell, who lives in a house that has a special place in Joburg design lore: the cluster or “compound”, as she jokingly calls it, in Parktown North where Sutton himself lived, and built a house for his sister, the landscaper Ann Sutton.“I have had a complete passion for Michael Sutton’s homes since I was in my 20s,” says Marilyn, a one-time interior designer. It wasn’t until her 40s, however, that she managed to bag one, and she’s lived in it for over 30 years. “He had such an amazing understanding of space,” she says. “He was a visionary.”Those who know their Joburg architectural history will be aware that…5 min

Visi |VISI 109TAKE FIVEAFRICAN GINGER Johannesburg-based illustrator and multimedia artist Seth Pimentel (aka African Ginger) uses childhood, relationships, mental illness, personal experiences and current affairs to inspire his mixed-media works. Instagram: @african_ginger ANDREA LIANG Andrea Liang – based in Cape Town – creates stylised portraits and digital illustrations inspired by nature and diversity. She simplifies her subject matter to capture key features in a simple yet striking way, adding colour to make them pop. Instagram: @andrealiangart ISHAARAH ARNOLD Graphic designer and illustrator Ishaarah Arnold is using her illustrations to inspire calm amid the chaos of the global pandemic. She’s used the time during lockdown in Cape Town to hone her skills in a new body of work ishaarah.co.za KIM BISCHOFBERGER Cape Town-based graphic designer and illustrator Kim Bischofberger makes striking digital artworks that…1 min

Visi |VISI 109LIFE AFTER TVWith homes in London, Paris, Berlin and CapeTown, celebrated South African interior designer Hubert Zandberg has a fail-safe formula for decorating his homes. “Wherever I go in the world, I turn my immediate environment into a small town,” says Hubert, who grew up in the Karoo, a vast semi-desert region in South Africa. “For that reason, I’d always loved London’s Notting Hill as it emulates the small-town community of my childhood where it’s possible to be known by name at your local café, grocer and bookshop.”Having lived and worked in London for the past 25 years, Hubert’s eponymously-named interior design business is located in Notting Hill too. “It’s safe to say I have a healthy obsession with the area,” he says with a grin. “I’d been looking to buy a…5 min

Visi |VISI 1094 Heritage of LuxeValoyi’s locally handmade handbags showcase a curated range of traditional textiles that celebrate West Africa, South Africa, Mali and the Democratic Republic of Congo. “I want to do my part in the redefining of the African narrative, my part in raising our heritage crafts and culture to a place of esteem, and further cementing its relevancy on this world,” says designer Harmonie Mbunga. “Why? Because its history matters. Our history matters.”For Harmonie, celebrating African history and culture is paramount. “Within every culture and tribe found in all the countries of this vast continent there is beauty, there is art and there is craftsmanship. But most of these creations are becoming lost and dying art forms. Our mission at Valoyi is to do our part in keeping the centuries-old heritage skills…1 min

Visi |VISI 109Where the Heart is“So, where is home for you?” fills me with as much cause to pause as “… and, your mother tongue is?” The answers aren’t neat. “I’m from Durban,” I’ll say, hoping that quickly covers both. I mostly only consider Durban the city in which I was born and raised, though to me, home is something else. And it keeps changing. Growing up, we moved often. Until I was about 14 years old, we’d changed address six times as a nuclear family. My father is from Kimberley, my mother from East London. Visiting relatives meant at least a nine-hour road trip, four little girls squished in the backseat, trying not to nap on each other. During those visits to the Northern and Eastern Cape, watching my parents in their hometowns felt…3 min

Visi |VISI 1098 Mohair MastersCoral Stephens never intended to start a weaving business. But after moving to Eswatini in the late 1940s and needing curtains for her newly built farmhouse, she decided to try to recreate a fabric that she had once purchased in the Eastern Cape. It was made from woven mohair, at a missionary school – so between Coral and Sylvia Mantanga, an employee of Coral’s who was a skilled weaver and had travelled with her to Eswatini, they began training some Swazi women to spin and weave.Once the curtains were made and installed, they were so much admired by visitors that people began asking if they could place orders for them, and so Coral Stephens Handweaving was born.Coral sourced looms, had spinning wheels made by the excellent carpenters who were employed…2 min

Visi |VISI 109VISION QUESTHOUSES DESIGNED BY THE MID-CENTURY ARCHITECT MICHAEL SUTTON inspire a rare devotion among Johannesburg design lovers. And so it was for Marilyn McDowell, who lives in a house that has a special place in Joburg design lore: the cluster or “compound”, as she jokingly calls it, in Parktown North where Sutton himself lived, and built a house for his sister, the landscaper Ann Sutton. “I have had a complete passion for Michael Sutton’s homes since I was in my 20s,” says Marilyn, a one-time interior designer. It wasn’t until her 40s, however, that she managed to bag one, and she’s lived in it for over 30 years. “He had such an amazing understanding of space,” she says. “He was a visionary.” Those who know their Joburg architectural history will be…5 min

Visi |VISI 109NOTHING 2 HIDEThere’s an oversupply of architecture in South Africa that’s more concerned with what is on the surface than how well the space functions and how it relates to its surroundings. Overly worked and too often themed, it presents the “dream” of living in a certain typecast style by way of gratuitous, decorative frills. This is especially prevalent in large-scale developments, where quality of life ends up coming second to feature walls and on-trend design elements that lack connection to their context. When JohanWentzel and Grete van As of W Design Architecture Studio had the initial discussions for Roundabout Brooklyn with developers KEE Properties, they envisaged an apartment block that would exist in harmony with its surroundings, with a focus on honesty, longevity and above all, liveability. They were also cognizant…4 min

Visi |VISI 10916 A Thread SpreadThe African Jacquard story began when French-born Christine Daron first came to Africa 35 years ago. After 11 years in Gabon and travels through the Congo, Angola and Burkina Faso, Christine decided to make South Africa her home in 1997.While she had managed interior design projects in Angola, Tanzania and Congo in the early 2000s, weaving her own fabric in Cape Town felt like a natural step to satisfy the needs of her clients. Using mainly cotton and linen, Christine decided to adopt the Jacquard style of weaving, in which the intricate woven patterns created are fully reversible and displayed on both sides of the fabric. And so African Jacquard began in 2014, at first making only tea towels and tablecloths.Projects for Babylonstoren and Angama Mara lodge in Kenya happened…2 min

Visi |VISI 10918 Shop Style“Modern Provisions For Modern Hippies” proclaims the glass frontage across this diminutive grocery store in Amsterdam’s trendy Haarlemmerdijk. Klein the Grocer sells only plant-based food, and there are few mainstream brands on the shelves. Instead, shoppers can expect products in beautiful packaging that also don’t contain any artificial additives, are mostly organic and are mainly from small-scale makers. Think Dutch seaweed “bacon”, Portuguese almond butter, fermented soft drinks and a large selection of fresh plant-based cheeses – oh, and don’t forget the Swedish-style cinnamon rolls, or the organic olive oil.If the aesthetic at Klein the Grocer rings a few bells – the bold and bright colours, the fearless use of typography, the smart puns – don’t be surprised. This supercute new store is the latest brainchild of one of South…2 min

Visi |VISI 10920 Flip ItSamsung may have gotten it wrong by rushing to market with the Galaxy Fold, but the company’s second attempt at a folding device has proved that feedback is important. The new phone is the dinky foldable Galaxy Z Flip, reminiscent of the iconic Motorola Razr. This 6.7-inch (17cm) smartphone comes in a purple mirror finish – and we recently managed to get our hands on one to test. It’s an absolutely stunning device; one you simply cannot keep hidden – or ruin with a cover!This modern flip phone has been built to withstand over 200 000 folds without breaking, according to Samsung. Snapping it shut is curiously satisfying; particularly so when ending a phone call. There’s also 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 3300mAh battery, 12MP dual-rear cameras and…1 min

Visi |VISI 1095 Fit for Queens“Design is an expressive medium that I believe can... capture an image that only exists in my mind,” says Glorinah Mabaso. The newly announced winner of the Trenery Print Competition – launched at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in 2019 – adds, “[Design] has the power to freeze time, it is a visual language that can speak louder than words, and most importantly, it is my sacred space.” From more than 400 entries to the competition, Glorinah’s was singled out for its raindrop-inspired design. The pattern pays homage to the Modjadji dynasty, and specifically, to the first Rain Queen, Maselekwane Modjadji (1800-1854) from Limpopo. Drawing inspiration from the history of the rain dance that Maselekwane headed, Glorinah interpreted the idea of rain smashing and running over glass into her…2 min

Visi |VISI 1098 Mohair MastersCoral Stephens never intended to start a weaving business. But after moving to Eswatini in the late 1940s and needing curtains for her newly built farmhouse, she decided to try to recreate a fabric that she had once purchased in the Eastern Cape. It was made from woven mohair, at a missionary school – so between Coral and Sylvia Mantanga, an employee of Coral’s who was a skilled weaver and had travelled with her to Eswatini, they began training some Swazi women to spin and weave. Once the curtains were made and installed, they were so much admired by visitors that people began asking if they could place orders for them, and so Coral Stephens Handweaving was born. Coral sourced looms, had spinning wheels made by the excellent carpenters who…2 min

Visi |VISI 10911 Back to the FutureNando’s opened its very first store in Rosettenville in 1987. Yes, although it seems like the beloved fast-food brand has been around forever, it’s really just over 30 – a smack-in-the-middle millennial, if you like. These days it’s hard to imagine South Africa without Nando’s, and VISI’s favourite element of the company’s global identity is undoubtedly its ongoing commitment to local design and art. Which is why, as designer and curator of the space Tracy Lynch puts it, it’s so exciting to see the original Nando’s space revamped to be “an extraordinary showcase of South African design”. The brand’s celebration of local design takes place on both a national and global level, informed by what she calls “the concept of using exceptional South African-designed furniture and an interior-design ZAesthetic”. As…2 min

Visi |VISI 109Park LifeAs an architectural photographer, I always appreciate a project that encourages a symbiotic relationship between a built structure and its surrounding environment. This oscillation between permanence and impermanence reaffirms my belief that we can sustain a world shared with nature. And the West Coast Fossil Park is just such a project. About an hour and a half from Cape Town lies a rich fossil site, world renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved fossil faunal remains, which date back 5.2 million years. The park was created after phosphate mining in the area unearthed fossil deposits including the likes of saber-toothed cats, short-necked giraffes and African bears – all of which roamed the then lush, subtropical West Coast. Tasked with creating a structure that encompassed the temporality of the natural environment and celebrated…2 min

Visi |VISI 10919 Simply ElectricWhen it comes to design, electric vehicles (EVs) present something of a dilemma for established car brands. Should they look suitably futuristic to match all that clever tech under the bonnet – like the BMW i3 – or should you rather play it safe and add an electric-engined model to your existing range, like the VW e-Golf? The former will grab more headlines and a thumbs-up from the early adopter crowd, but the latter could result in more sales by clothing unfamiliar tech in familiar garb. Or, perhaps, it’s something in between. It’s the approach Porsche has taken with its new four-door sports saloon, the Taycan – the legendary marque’s first ever EV – though its design is anything but the middle-of-the road position it may suggest. OUTSIDE Recently launched…3 min

Visi |VISI 109We’re still at home.As we speak, I’m typing away sitting at our living room table with my constant companion at the other end during these past lockdown months – my teenager – doing her matric schoolwork. That makes it the second issue of VISI done remotely … and it also marks the second wave of home-improvements for the Smith household. It’s been a thing, right? Sounds like everyone has spent a large part of lockdown thinking of ways to re-imagine, revamp, and redo their homes. For us, it’s mostly been about colour – an instinctive response, I guess, to the sameness of lockdown. Wave One was more of a painting and artwork thing. From a blank-canvas white, one wall got painted pink and another grey … and that resulted in a major rehang…1 min

Visi |VISI 109FADE TO WHITEICE WHITE1. CASSINA takes its inspiration from the genius of Le Corbusier for a collection of three trays in pure, unglazed porcelain. These trays borrow some of the bas-relief symbols chosen for the walls of the buildings of Chandigarh, the city designed in the 1950s and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Each tray – they are made by Richard Ginori – includes an original design sketched by Le Corbusier. There’s an open hand, symbolising peace, on a square tray with rounded corners, a fish on a round tray, and the movement of the sun on a rectangular tray. cassina.com Brands big on colour, stepping out in white: 2. SMEG Retro Milk Frother from the 50s Style Collection in ice white smeg.com 3. GUZZINI G-Style Electric Citrus Juicer in white.…3 min

Visi |VISI 109TAKE FIVEAFRICAN GINGERJohannesburg-based illustrator and multimedia artist Seth Pimentel (aka African Ginger) uses childhood, relationships, mental illness, personal experiences and current affairs to inspire his mixed-media works. Instagram: @african_gingerANDREA LIANGAndrea Liang – based in Cape Town – creates stylised portraits and digital illustrations inspired by nature and diversity. She simplifies her subject matter to capture key features in a simple yet striking way, adding colour to make them pop. Instagram: @andrealiangartISHAARAH ARNOLDGraphic designer and illustrator Ishaarah Arnold is using her illustrations to inspire calm amid the chaos of the global pandemic. She’s used the time during lockdown in Cape Town to hone her skills in a new body of work ishaarah.co.zaKIM BISCHOFBERGERCape Town-based graphic designer and illustrator Kim Bischofberger makes striking digital artworks that highlight architectural angles and arches. She creates…1 min

Visi |VISI 109Home FarmI REMEMBER SUN-FILLED DAYS OF WALKING IN THE VELD, CLIMBING KOPPIES TO LOOK FOR ROCK ARTArriving on my grandparents’ farm for our annual three-week winter holiday was always an occasion. As was usual, my grandmother waited for us on the big red wraparound stoep. How long she had been hovering in the vicinity of the front door we never knew, but there she always was as my dad parked the car close to the five cypresses that stood guard on the front lawn. Big hugs were always followed by tea and soetkoekies already laid out on the table – setting the scene for so many treats in the weeks to come.In later years my mom told the story of how my great-grandfather used to tell off my grandmother for sitting…3 min

Visi |VISI 109FADE TO WHITEICE WHITE 1. CASSINA takes its inspiration from the genius of Le Corbusier for a collection of three trays in pure, unglazed porcelain. These trays borrow some of the bas-relief symbols chosen for the walls of the buildings of Chandigarh, the city designed in the 1950s and now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Each tray – they are made by Richard Ginori – includes an original design sketched by Le Corbusier. There’s an open hand, symbolising peace, on a square tray with rounded corners, a fish on a round tray, and the movement of the sun on a rectangular tray. cassina.com Brands big on colour, stepping out in white: 2. SMEG Retro Milk Frother from the 50s Style Collection in ice white smeg.com3. GUZZINI G-Style Electric Citrus Juicer in white.…3 min

Visi |VISI 109Design Deconstruction MINIMALISMAny discussion about Minimalism as a design movement would have to start in the East. Traditional Japanese design, with its concepts of ikebana (precise floral arrangement), wabisabi (authenticity in natural imperfection) and ma (spatial intervals), existed long before the rest of the world embraced Minimalism in the 1960s and '70s. This Western turn to simple, pared-back, contemplative forms was mostly in opposition to Abstract Expressionism, with its dramatic excess and perceived spontaneity. Minimalists – in art, music, literature, fashion and architecture – were more interested in pauses and reflection. They sought to include resolved form, calming space and considered materials rather than extra brushstrokes, layered harmonies, additional sentences, more accessories or unnecessary walls. For design, this meant clean, reductive lines, a simple colour palette and a deliberate focus on function…3 min

Visi |VISI 109INSPIREIT WAS 13 YEARS AGO, in 2007, that New Yorkers Jim Brett and Ed Gray were first enchanted by Cape Town. At the time, Jim was Head of Home at leading US retailer Anthropologie and was on a buying trip to South Africa with local design promoter and exporter Trevyn McGowan of The Guild Group. The three of them embarked on a trip cross-country, visiting the studios of artisans and designers, and formed an immediate bond. “I had never met anyone who could match my passion for handicraft and design,” Jim says of Trevyn.“As we travelled to South Africa more often, we fell in love with the country, specifically Cape Town and its environs,” Ed says. So, it came as no surprise to family and friends when he and Jim…5 min

Visi |VISI 109NOTHING 2 HIDEThere’s an oversupply of architecture in South Africa that’s more concerned with what is on the surface than how well the space functions and how it relates to its surroundings. Overly worked and too often themed, it presents the “dream” of living in a certain typecast style by way of gratuitous, decorative frills. This is especially prevalent in large-scale developments, where quality of life ends up coming second to feature walls and on-trend design elements that lack connection to their context.When JohanWentzel and Grete van As of W Design Architecture Studio had the initial discussions for Roundabout Brooklyn with developers KEE Properties, they envisaged an apartment block that would exist in harmony with its surroundings, with a focus on honesty, longevity and above all, liveability. They were also cognizant of…4 min

Visi |VISI 109Home FarmI REMEMBER SUN-FILLED DAYS OF WALKING IN THE VELD, CLIMBING KOPPIES TO LOOK FOR ROCK ART Arriving on my grandparents’ farm for our annual three-week winter holiday was always an occasion. As was usual, my grandmother waited for us on the big red wraparound stoep. How long she had been hovering in the vicinity of the front door we never knew, but there she always was as my dad parked the car close to the five cypresses that stood guard on the front lawn. Big hugs were always followed by tea and soetkoekies already laid out on the table – setting the scene for so many treats in the weeks to come. In later years my mom told the story of how my great-grandfather used to tell off my grandmother…3 min

Visi |VISI 109"Is there that I born"Whenever I hear the word “home”, whether I’m uttering it or someone else is, what comes to me unbidden are images of my family’s life in the “servant’s quarters” where I was born (1966) and lived for the first few years of my life. My father, thirsty after a meal of salt snoek and bread, scooping a cup of cool water from a galvanised bucket on a kitchen counter. My mother, walking down the road to catch a bus to work. My brother, outside in the yard screaming “blue murder”, in my mother’s telling of the story, because his tricycle’s wheel was stuck behind a stone. This home was a converted garage on my uncle and aunt’s property in the newly declared group area of Charleston Hill, Paarl. It had…3 min

Visi |VISI 1095 Fit for Queens“Design is an expressive medium that I believe can... capture an image that only exists in my mind,” says Glorinah Mabaso. The newly announced winner of the Trenery Print Competition – launched at the Investec Cape Town Art Fair in 2019 – adds, “[Design] has the power to freeze time, it is a visual language that can speak louder than words, and most importantly, it is my sacred space.”From more than 400 entries to the competition, Glorinah’s was singled out for its raindrop-inspired design. The pattern pays homage to the Modjadji dynasty, and specifically, to the first Rain Queen, Maselekwane Modjadji (1800-1854) from Limpopo. Drawing inspiration from the history of the rain dance that Maselekwane headed, Glorinah interpreted the idea of rain smashing and running over glass into her final…2 min

Visi |VISI 109WIN a Continua ConsoleCONTINUA recently collaborated with South African model Kerry McGregor on this oak and black granite console that features natural stone from granite, marble and onyx distributors Rudi’s Choice. Now, you can enter to stand a chance of winning your very own handcrafted console or coffee table unit, which, together with the CONTINUA team, you'll get to design and customise. CONTINUA is a one-stop shop for all surface and flooring requirements. Their services including waterjet-cutting, polishing, fabrication, installation and custom-made furniture, and a product range featuring top-quality natural stone, porcelain, engineered oak, vinyl flooring, quartz and decorative tiles. The winner will be able to choose from three variations of natural stone. The dimensions of the prize will be tailor-made to the winner’s needs, but are limited to 1,2m x 0,4m x…1 min

Visi |VISI 109DREAM WEAVERTEXT GRAHAM WOOD n the vast ancient desert of Namibia, nature is the greatest architect. Millions of years have refined the shapes of the shelters that birds and animals create for themselves here. The gigantic nests built by sociable weaver birds in camelthorn trees – vast domed structures of twigs and grass often 3m wide – are one of the most striking examples. “They’re architectural masterpieces,” says Swen Bachran, the entrepreneur and conservationist who established the Namib Tsaris Conservancy with his neighbours in the desert, not far from the famous red dunes at Sossusvlei and the haunting 700-year-old skeletons of dead camelthorn trees at Deadvlei. Before he owned any land in the region, he and his designer and artist friend Porky Hefer visited a spot nearby the site of The…5 min

Visi |VISI 109INSPIREIT WAS 13 YEARS AGO, in 2007, that New Yorkers Jim Brett and Ed Gray were first enchanted by Cape Town. At the time, Jim was Head of Home at leading US retailer Anthropologie and was on a buying trip to South Africa with local design promoter and exporter Trevyn McGowan of The Guild Group. The three of them embarked on a trip cross-country, visiting the studios of artisans and designers, and formed an immediate bond. “I had never met anyone who could match my passion for handicraft and design,” Jim says of Trevyn. “As we travelled to South Africa more often, we fell in love with the country, specifically Cape Town and its environs,” Ed says. So, it came as no surprise to family and friends when he and…5 min

Visi |VISI 10913 Taken for PlantedHorticulture major Kevin Brown founded Earthlings, an indoor plant company, in 2001 and has since gone on to establish a division called Moss Works SA. Moss Works creates moss installations, made from preserved moss imported from Europe, which are fully customisable in shape and colour. They can be installed anywhere indoors and are ideal for both homes and corporate spaces. Plus, you’re able to place one of these installations virtually anywhere from ceilings to pillars to walls – the options are as wide as your imagination.WHY CONSIDER A MOSS INSTALLATION?● Aesthetic greening • No watering or special lighting required • Fire resistant • Fully customisable• No maintenance required • Amazing acoustic properties Boasting both tactile and visual appeal, Moss Works installations offer an alternative to planted “living walls” or wallpaper,…1 min

Visi |VISI 10915 Open Season1. Made from kooboo cane and leather, and large enough to take an afternoon snooze in, this new sleeping pod/cosy nest by Cape Town-based designer Porky Hefer is the perfect addition to any hideaway. Mud Dauber Sleeping Pod I by Porky Hefer (edition of two), POA, Southern Guild (southernguild.co.za). 2. These mid-century classic chairs were conceived by Danish designer Børge Mogensen, and combine all-natural materials with thoughtful detailing. They're still in production today at Danish manufacturers Fredericia Furniture (fredericia.com). Find designs with a similar feel in SA at Weylandts (weylandts. co.za) and Homewood (homewood.co.za). 3. Casa Pask is theatre designer Scott Pask’s getaway home in Tucson, Arizona. Renovated by architect Graydon Yearick in the early 2010s, the house combines features of the area’s adobe-style buildings with a pared-back sensibility that…2 min

Visi |VISI 109Park LifeAs an architectural photographer, I always appreciate a project that encourages a symbiotic relationship between a built structure and its surrounding environment. This oscillation between permanence and impermanence reaffirms my belief that we can sustain a world shared with nature. And the West Coast Fossil Park is just such a project.About an hour and a half from Cape Town lies a rich fossil site, world renowned for its exceptionally well-preserved fossil faunal remains, which date back 5.2 million years. The park was created after phosphate mining in the area unearthed fossil deposits including the likes of saber-toothed cats, short-necked giraffes and African bears – all of which roamed the then lush, subtropical West Coast.Tasked with creating a structure that encompassed the temporality of the natural environment and celebrated the discoveries…2 min

Visi |VISI 1093 Situation ScapesPebofatso Mokoena's practice isn’t one that's based in a moment, he says. “It's more like in situation-scapes that merge, mingle, collide, slice, become miniaturised and expand at different moments of making work.” And that making includes sometimes working in painting, drawing, collage, print, and even video, which reflects this Johannesburg-based painter-printmaker's notion that “there are inherently so many things happening even before the work is made, that influence what the work may represent”. Pebofatso, who was raised in the East Rand, says, “I was born into an extraordinarily violent socio-political moment. Nothing about that situation was serene, but that paradigm had such a profound influence on how I saw the world in general.” Growing up, he adds, his family had a television and that was a sort of escape for…2 min

Visi |VISI 1096 Table Talkinspiration behind the ABODE range, and the plans she has for the collection in the future. Having been making sensuous, shapely jewellery for almost 20 years, Kirsten Goss sees her recently launched ABODE collection as “a collection of modern-day heirlooms”. Her signature curvaceous jewellery designs translate beautifully into considered implements and objects for living, with a core collection consisting of sterling silver cutlery, and stainless steel and solid brass serving ware. We chatted to Kirsten about the Why did you decide to create ABODE in addition to your jewellery ranges? Having grown up in a partly Norwegian family, we always had beautifully considered cutlery and homeware around. I guess that had a big influence on my penchant for great details in the living department. If you're going to scoop that…2 min

Visi |VISI 1099 Smart WeaveWith better hygiene on everyone’s minds these days, the new FibreGuard Pro fabrics from Home Fabrics, which includes three separate fabric collections – the Spartacus, Michelin and Combo ranges – is the perfect way to update interiors beautifully without compromising on health and safety. All the fabrics in these luxurious ranges are soft to the touch as well as being moisture-, odour- and mildew-resistant. A breathable membrane has been applied to the back of the fabric that prevents any penetration of liquids, while still allowing air to circulate. This makes FibreGuard Pro fabrics washable and easy to clean, in addition to being stain-resistant and having antimicrobial properties. The Spartacus, Michelin and Combo collections are also durable, offering long-lasting value for money, and they're eco-friendly to boot. Like all of the…1 min

Visi |VISI 10912 Botanical BeautiesBorn and raised in the rural northwestern Free State, artist and horticulturalist Chris van Niekerk has long had a deep connection with the natural world. "I was forever fascinated by the unfathomable beauty and perfection of flowers," he says. "I would spend entire school holidays collecting flowers, seeds and leaves, dissecting and rearranging them into different shapes, forms and patterns." That childhood passion translated into university studies in horticulture at Tshwane University of Technology, following which Chris spent six years working at a horticulturalist – including being involved in the design and development of what is now the Centurion Lake complex in Gauteng. His increasing interest in design led to part-time lecturing in the field of landscape design and, following a move to Cape Town, 22 years as a conceptual…2 min

Visi |VISI 10918 Shop Style“Modern Provisions For Modern Hippies” proclaims the glass frontage across this diminutive grocery store in Amsterdam’s trendy Haarlemmerdijk. Klein the Grocer sells only plant-based food, and there are few mainstream brands on the shelves. Instead, shoppers can expect products in beautiful packaging that also don’t contain any artificial additives, are mostly organic and are mainly from small-scale makers. Think Dutch seaweed “bacon”, Portuguese almond butter, fermented soft drinks and a large selection of fresh plant-based cheeses – oh, and don’t forget the Swedish-style cinnamon rolls, or the organic olive oil. If the aesthetic at Klein the Grocer rings a few bells – the bold and bright colours, the fearless use of typography, the smart puns – don’t be surprised. This supercute new store is the latest brainchild of one of…2 min

Visi |VISI 10920 Flip ItSamsung may have gotten it wrong by rushing to market with the Galaxy Fold, but the company’s second attempt at a folding device has proved that feedback is important. The new phone is the dinky foldable Galaxy Z Flip, reminiscent of the iconic Motorola Razr. This 6.7-inch (17cm) smartphone comes in a purple mirror finish – and we recently managed to get our hands on one to test. It’s an absolutely stunning device; one you simply cannot keep hidden – or ruin with a cover! This modern flip phone has been built to withstand over 200 000 folds without breaking, according to Samsung. Snapping it shut is curiously satisfying; particularly so when ending a phone call. There’s also 8GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, a 3300mAh battery, 12MP dual-rear cameras…1 min